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Susana Walton

Sue Lawley's castaway is horticulturalist Lady Susana Walton.

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is Lady Walton. Within two weeks of meeting the composer Sir William Walton, Susana Gil Passo had accepted his marriage proposal and left her home in Argentina. When they moved to the island of Ischia, she began transforming the barren land into what is now La Mortella - one of the most famous and beautiful gardens of the Mediterranean. It boasts more than 600 exotic plants - including tree ferns, jacaranda and the huge Victoria Amazonica Waterlily - and is the backdrop to summer concerts organised in Sir William's memory. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Troilus and Cressida, Act Two by Sir William Walton
Book: The Education of a Gardener by Russel Page
Luxury: Downy pillow

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Jan 2002 09:00
±«Óãtv Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • William Walton

      Troilus and Cressida, Act Two

      Soloist: Judith Howarth, Arthur Davies

      • Troilus and Cressida.
      • Chandos.

  • Astor Piazzolla

    Le Grand Tango

    Soloist: Gidon Kremer, Vadim Sakharov

    • Hommage a Piazzolla.
    • Nonesuch.

  • Franz Liszt

    Faust Symphony

    Orchestra: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Sir Thomas Beecham

    • Liszt: A Faust Symphony.
    • EMI.

  • Paul Hindemith

    String Trio No. 2

    Orchestra: Hindemith Trio

    • Paul Hindemith.
    • Koch.

  • William Walton

    Charge and Battle

    Artist: Philaharmonia Orchestra

    • The Walton Edition.
    • EMI.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Song without Words 'Venetian Gondola Song'

    Artist: Nathan Berg, Eugene Asti

    • Mendelssohn Songs and Duets.
    • Hyperion.

  • William Walton

    Polka (from Façade)

    Soloist: Lady Walton

    • Walton: Facade.
    • Chandos.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Falstaff Act 3

    Soloist: Tito Gobbi

    • Verdi: Falstaff.
    • EMI.

  • Book Choice

    • The Education of a Gardener - Russel Page

  • Luxury Choice

    • Downy pillow

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Susana Walton

Broadcasts

  • Sun 13 Jan 2002 11:15
    ±«Óãtv Radio 4
  • Fri 18 Jan 2002 09:00
    ±«Óãtv Radio 4

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